The trade deadline is ever approaching and the rumors are swirling harder and harder. We heard yesterday that the Yankees are intensifying their pursuit of Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda and, of course, they’re still in on Rockies’ right hander Ubaldo Jimenez. So, I think this is a good time for us to have a nice discussion.
Given the current and future needs of the Yankees, would you rather trade for Jimenez or Kuroda?
The case for Kuroda:
1. The price will be considerably less.
2. He’ll be a free agent, so there’s no long term commitment. He could also net a compensation pick.
3. He fits a need as a durable and effective starter.
The case against Kuroda
1. The whole NL-to-AL thing. Meh.
2. He’s old.
3. He may not approve a trade.
The case for Jimenez
1. He’s a top-flite talent.
2. He’s cheap for at least 2012 and 2013.
3. He’s also a durable, effective starter.
The case against Jimenez
1. He’s going to cost a lot.
2. There’s been a velocity drop.
3. Again, the NL-to-AL thing. Again, meh.
I have no idea what the cost for Kuroda is going to be, but I can’t imagine it will be all that high. Maybe a B level prospect or a B level and a C level prospect. I do know that cost for Jimenez is likely to include Jesus Montero and one of Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances. Even so, I think I’d rather trade for Jimenez. If the Yankees are going to make an upgrade, they might as well make one that helps them in not just 2011, but in 2012 and beyond. What do you think? Use the comments to argue amongst yourselves.
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15 Responses to Kuroda vs. Jimenez
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TIQ IQ
The Kuroda sweepstakes are likely to attract more contenders than Jimenez. Competition in this case drives the cost of prospects up. A team like oh .. the RS.. could see Kuroda as the missing link to take them deep into the playoffs.
I could easily see the price for kuroda escalate and cost us a young, team control starter (Nova).
exchanged a few tweets with larry yesterday, but I don’t think you should break the bank on Ubaldo. Why not try everything you can to pry Felix from the Mariners?
Sounds impossible, but a ridiculous package around Cano, Gardner, and Nova with 6 prospects could get things rolling, no? Before the naysayers say the Yankees are paying too much, realize that this team is built to win now and Sabathia with Felix would be one of the best, if not the best 1-2 combos in the playoffs. Why risk Ubaldo flaming out (honestly, I’m scared about his velocity drop) and lose the prospects needed for Felix?
I never understand the Win-Now argument that people use with the Yankees.
The Yankees are built to Win, Period. Yesterday, Now, Tomorrow, 100 yrs from now. You think 3 years from now, the yankees wont be fielding a quality team with the goal of winning the world series.
Stop with the win now BS.
Then we would be down a starting second baseman and starting LFer, with no one to replace their production. That deal makes no sense.
+1
pass on both
There’s a rumor that Kuroda wants to return to japan at the end of this season when he hits free agency. Meaning the Yanks wouldn’t be able to re-sign him (if they would want to). Not sure how that would work with a compensation draft pick either…
Could a reason the rockies want to trade jimenez be that something is wrong considering his loss in velocity?
The Yanks should get Jimenez for Sabathia/Jimenez/Burnett/Garcia/Colon the rest of the regular season. The pen could be Rivera/Soriano/Robertson/Ayala/Logan/Romero/Hughes if Soriano returns, Romero is called up, and Hughes is moved to the pen (Noesi, Wade, and Garrison sent down.) If you think Hughes would/should be shut down, fine, Noesi in place of him.
ALDS rotation:
Sabathia Games 1 and 5
Garcia Game 2
Jimenez Game 3 so he starts if the Yanks are down 0-2 or tied and want a better chance at going up 2-1
Burnett or Colon Game 4
ALCS and WS rotations:
Garcia Games 1 and 5
Jimenez Games 2 and 6
Sabathia Games 3 and 7
Burnett or Colon Game 4
Or Garcia and Jimenez switch places if the Yanks want Jimenez to start at home one game in the WS (Game 5.) I’d rather have Jimenez start Game 2 of the WS because I think he’s more likely to help the Yanks tie it up or go ahead 2-0 than Garcia, as much as I like Garcia enough to have him start where I’ve slotted him above. I don’t want Burnett or Colon anywhere near a Game 1, 2, or 3 – they’re Game 4 starters.
The 2012 rotation could be Sabathia/Jimenez/Burnett/Garcia re-signed/Whoever wins the fifth starter job among Hughes, Nova, Warren, Phelps, Noesi, and either Betances or Banuelos (whichever isn’t traded for Jimenez.) Or the 4-5 could be any two from Garcia, the farmhands, and maybe a minor-league contract veteran (Chien Mien Wang?)
I would give up Montero and either Betances or Banuelos for Jimenez because I honestly don’t thnk Montero and/or whichever kid is traded will help the Rockies make it to or win a World Series and I think Jimenez could help the Yanks win a World Series before the Rockies win one as early as this year. If the Yanks make it to or win this year’s WS with Jimenez, the trade would have paid off esp. if the Yanks won the WS of course. Bottom line is if Montero and whoever doesn’t help the Rockies win the WS for as long as they are Rockies and Jimenez is a Yank, who cares what they do for the Rockies?
Can Hughes not be added in any deal? I’m sure the Rockies or Dodgers would not say no to a guy that has MLB experience in the rotation and the bullpen and who is young enough to be salvaged.
I doubt either of those teams would want Hughes over Nova.
MJ suggested adding Hughes to a deal. He didn’t say this would be in place of Nova. Possibly Hughes plus Nova becomes the centerpiece of a package.
Ah, I didn’t read him correctly, thought he was saying we shouldn’t trade him.
That’s exactly what I meant Scout. Hughes/Nova could slightly ease the cost in prospects.
At this point I think Hughes is pitching his ticket out of town so I’d rather send him out sooner rather than later.
And all this is said by a guy that loves Hughes. I just acknowledge that the Yankees are running out of patience.
We need Ubaldo, otherwise we’ll overpay for CJ Wilson by a long shot. I’m not opposed to CJ, in fact I’d still want to sign him even if we had Ubaldo, I just don’t want to enter another off-season desperate for a starter when the pickings are so slim.
I prefer Kuroda. He will cost much less than Jimenez. Not to mention that since last year’s all star break, Ubaldo has posted an ugly 4.26 ERA against teams over .500. I also don’t see Ubaldo settling well in the AL East.